Tampon applicators

ABSTRACT

A tampon applicator has an outer cylindrical member for containing a tampon and an inner arcuate member which is arranged to lie between the inner surface of the outer member and the tampon and to be slidably moved within the outer member to act as a piston for ejecting the tampon. One end of the inner member is adapted to engage the tampon and has a shoulder region. The outer member is provided with a first inward projection to engage the tampon and prevent rearward movement thereof and at least one second inward projection intermediate the first projection and the rear end of she cylindrical member to engage the shoulder region of the inner member and prevent complete withdrawal of she inner member from the outer member. The inward projections comprises at least one flap for example a pair of flaps or an inwardly deformed arcuate strip.

The invention relates to tampon applicators. Conventional tamponapplicators commonly comprise an outer cylindrical member for containinga catamenial tampon and an inner member which is adapted to slidablymove within the outer member to act as a piston for ejecting the tampon.Such tampon applicators are often marketed in assembled form ready foruse in which the tampon is provided towards one end of the outer memberand the inner member is partially inserted within the other end of theouter member. It has been found, however, in general that the length ofsuch assembled tampon applicators is inconvenient and awkward forstorage in ladies handbags. For this reason, tampon applicators ofcompact form have been proposed in which the inner member is storedwithin the outer member alongside the tampon. Such applicators can bereadily assembled for use by slidably moving the inner member rearwardlyof the outer member to engage the rear of the tampon.

United Kingdom Patent Application GB 2033754A discloses a tamponapplicator of compact form which comprises an outer cylindrical memberfor containing the tampon and an inner cylindrical member which liesbetween the tampon and the outer member and which can be slidably movedrearwardly therein from the tampons to engage the rear end thereof toform a piston for ejecting the tampon. The outer cylindrical member ofthis applicator has inward projections which can prevent withdrawal ofthe tampon and the inner cylindrical member when the inner member ismoved rearwardly and the inner cylindrical member is provided with slotsin which the projections can slidably engage. U.S. Pat. No. 3,090,385discloses a similar tampon applicator of compact form which comprises anouter cylindrical member and an inner member which comprises a pluralityof arms. The outer member of this applicator has inward projections toprevent withdrawal of the inner member and the tampon and the arms ofthe inner member comprise grooves in which the projections can slidablyengage. The inner members of the tampon applicators disclosed in thesepatents, however, because of their construction, may be relativelycomplex or uneconomic to manufacture.

Tampon applicators have now been found which comprise an inner member ofrelatively simple construction which is economic to manufacture.

Accordingly the present invention provides a tampon applicator includingan outer cylindrical member for containing a tampon and an inner arcuatemember which is arranged to lie between the inner surface of the outermember and the tampon and to be slidably moved within the outer memberto act as a piston for ejecting the tampon wherein one end of the innermember is adapted to engage the tampon and has a shoulder region andwherein the outer member is provided with a first inward projection toengage the tampon and prevent rearward movement thereof and at least onesecond inward projection intermediate the first projection and the rearend of the cylindrical member to engage the shoulder region of the innermember and prevent complete withdrawal of the inner member from theouter member, the distance between said first and second projectionsbeing such as to provide sufficient axial movement of the inner memberto allow it to be slid rearwardly past the first projection before theshoulder region engages the second projection.

The tampon applicator of the invention employs an arcuate inner memberwhich uses less material than a completely cylindrical inner member andis of a simple construction. The applicator thus comprises an innermember which is more economical to manufacture when compared to theinner members of hereinbefore disclosed tampon applicators of the priorart.

The circumference of the inner arcuate member can suitable subtend anangle of 90° to 270°, desirably an angle of 120° to 240° and canpreferably subtend an angle of 150° to 220° for example an angle of180°.

The inner arcuate member has a shoulder region or stepped portion whichcan be on one or both its longitudinal edges. It is preferred however,that the inner arcuate member has a stepped portion on both of itslongitudinal edges to enable it to engage with a second inwardprojection on the outer cylindrical member comprising a pair of flaps oran inwardly deformed arcuate strip described hereinafter. The steppedportion will normally be positioned towards the front end of the innerarcuate member to be moved rearwardly past the rear end of the tamponbefore the stepped portion engages the second projection.

The ratio of the length of the stepped portion to the length of theinner arcuate member can suitably be less than 1:3, desirably less than1:4 and can preferably be less than 1:5.

The step of the stepped portion should have a height which is sufficientto enable the step to engage with an inward projection such as a flap orstrip of the outer cylindrical member. A step of a height of 1 to 5 mmhas been found suitable to engage with an hereinafter mentioned flap orstrip projection of the cylindrical member.

The arcuate inner member will normally have a similar length to that ofthe outer cylindrical member to provide the applicator with a compactform. The arcuate inner member is desirably longer than the outercylindrical member to ensure that the inner member can eject acatamenial tampon through the end of the outer member which will beinserted into the vagina.

However, in order to maintain the compact form of the applicator theratio of the length of the inner member to that of the outer membershould be less than 1.3:1 desirably less than 1.2:1 and shouldpreferably be less than 1.1 to 1.

The longer inner member preferably extends beyond the rear end of theouter member to provide the member at its rear end with a "handle"portion to facilitate grasping and slidably moving the inner memberwithin the outer member. Such a "handle" portion of the arcuate membercan favourably be a cylindrical portion to facilitate gripping themember. The rear end of the arcuate inner member can optionally beprovided with a means to engage with the rear end or the second inwardprojection of the outer cylindrical member to prevent the inner memberbeing initially moved forward when assembling the applicator. Such ameans can favourably be a stepped portion which can engage with a secondinward flap projection described hereinafter.

The arcuate inner member will have a front end which is adapted toengage the rear end of the tampon. The front end of the member canadvantageously be provided with an abutment such as inwardly folded orcurved portion to ensure engagement of the end with the tampon. Such acurved portion can favourably be resilient and segmented to allow theinner member to be moved rearwardly from the tampon to provide a pistonfor the applicator.

The outer cylindrical member has an end for insertion into the vagina.The outer cylindrical member may have a flat insertion end but it ispreferred that this member has a segmented domed end to facilitateinsertion of the member into the vagina. The domed end can aptly besegmented into petal shape segments which converge to a small centralaperture at the front portion of the end. The segments or petalshowever, can be within, coextensive with or extend beyond the domed endportion of the cylindrical member.

Suitable segmented domed end cylindrical tubes for making the outercylindrical members used in the applicators of the invention aredisclosed in European Patent Application Nos. 0115193 and 0066212.

The rear end of the outer cylindrical member which is adjacent to thearcuate inner member when the applicator is in compact form canadvantageously have an re-entrant portion to expose the rear end of thearcuate member to facilitate handling of the member when it is to bemoved.

The outer cylindrical member has first and second inward projections toengage with the tampon or the stepped portion or portions of the innermember. Suitable inward projections include projections formed bymethods such as adhering or moulding a small component for example ablock on the inner surface of the cylindrical member or by deforming orcutting the wall of the cylindrical member to form a raised innerportion thereof. Favoured inward projections of the cylindrical memberare flaps formed by example by cutting or by punching and folding aportion of the wall of the cylindrical member and an inwardly deformedarcuate strip portions of the cylindrical member.

In preferred embodiments of the invention the first and second inwardprojections each comprise one or more flaps for examples a pair of flapsor a inwardly deformed arcuate strip portion.

In a favoured embodiment of the invention which comprise flapprojections the first and second inward projections each comprise asingle flap or the first inward projection comprises a single flap andthe second inward projection comprises a pair of flaps.

Such flaps can be axial or transverse flaps and can have any convenientshape such as rectangular triangular or curved shape provided it issuitable for engagement with the tampon or stepped portion of thearcuate member.

In another favoured embodiment of the invention the first and secondinward projections each comprise an inwardly deformed arcuate stripportion of the outer cylindrical member.

The strip portion of both projections will normally lie perpendicular tothe length or axial direction of the outer member. The deformed stripportion of at least the second projection will have a shape such as acurved or angled arched shape to enable the projection to engage withthe pair of stepped portions on the arcuate member when this member ismoved rearwardly of the outer member. Such a projection can be readilyformed by cutting an arcuate strip of appropriate width and length inthe outer cylindrical member and deforming the strip inwardly by meansof a suitable tool such as rounded or angled edge flat tool.

In a further favoured embodiment of the invention the first and secondprojections each comprise a pair of opposed inwardly projecting flapsformed from an arcuate strip portion of the outer cylindrical member.Such inward projecting flaps can be readily formed by cutting an arcuatestrip of appropriate width and length in the outer cylindrical member,cutting the strip preferably centrally in the axial direction of theouter member to form a pair of flaps and folding the flaps to projectinwardly of the member.

The first and second inward flap or strip projections will normally bepositioned towards the rear end of the outer member and in a portionthereof which is not in contact with the inner arcuate member or thetampon when the applicator is in compact form so as not to inhibit thesliding movement of the arcuate member during assembly of the applicatoror when it is used as a piston to eject the tampon.

The first and second inward projections of the outer member can be in aposition within the member which is central to or towards one or bothlongitudinal sides of the arcute inner member. It is preferred howeverwhen the projections are flaps that two of the first and secondprojections are positioned adjacent to opposite longitudinal sides ofthe arcuate inner member to act as a guide for the member and alsoprevent it rotating in use. When the inward projections so positionedcomprise flaps formed by folding a cut portion of the inner member it isalso preferred that the flaps fold away from the longitudinal sides ofthe stepped portion or portions of the arcuate member to prevent theflaps closing in when in contact with said sides or portions. The flapscan advantageously fold away from the longitudinal sides of the arcuatemember so that this member covers the cut out portions of the innermember from which the flaps were formed.

It is essential, however, that the first inward projection orprojections should not be capable of engaging with the stepped portionor portions of the arcuate member to prevent the member being slidrearwardly of the tampon. The first inward projection or projectionswill thus also be positioned in a portion of the cylindrical memberwhich is not contacted by the arcuate member when it's moved rearwardlytherein.

Furthermore, when the first inward projection comprises a pair of flapsor an inwardly deformed arcuate strip the angle subtended by theremaining portion of the outer member which is adjacent to the deformedstrip or flap projections should be greater than that subtended by thepair of stepped portions of the inner member to ensure that the firstinward projection or projections do not engage these stepped portionswhen the inner member is moved rearwardly of the tampon.

Similarly when second inward projection comprises a pair of flaps or aninwardly deformed strip the angle subtended by the remaining portion ofthe outer member adjacent to the deformed strip or flap projectionsshould be less than that subtended by the pair of stepped portions ofthe inner member to ensure engagement of the these portions with secondinward projection or projections when the inner member is movedrearwardly to complete withdrawal of the inner member.

In embodiments with such first and second inward projections the lengthof strip portion or the distance between fold lines of the pair flaps ofthe first inward projection will therefore be less than length of ordistance between a similar strip portion or pair of flaps of the secondprojections. The first and second strip projection or flap projectionscan advantageously be positioned adjacent to each other at or towardsthe rear end of the outer member. The strip portions of the outer memberfrom which adjacent projections are made can readily be formed by makingonly three cuts instead of four cuts in the outer member.

In the applicator of the invention when in compact form the first inwardprojection will normally be located adjacent or near to the rear end ofthe tampon so that the projection will engage with the tampon to preventrearward movement thereof when the inner arcuate member is initiallymoved reawardly.

The second inward projection or projections will be positionedrearwardly of the first inward projection for example at or near therear end of outer cylindrical member. The second projection orprojections will also be positioned at an axial distance from the firstprojection which is equal or preferably greater than the axial length ofthe stepped portion to allow the inner member to be slid rearwardly pastthe point of contact of the first inward projection and hence the rearend of the tampon before the stepped portion or portions engage thesecond projection or projections. The second inward projection orprojections so positioned will prevent complete withdrawal of the innermember from the outer member and also allow the inner member to beengaged with the rear end of the tampon and act as a piston for ejectingthe tampon for the outer member.

The applicator of the invention can be made of any of the materials suchas plastics, cardboard or paper used for conventional tamponapplicators. Preferred applicators of the inventions, however, comprisepaper such as cardboard.

The outer cylindrical member is preferably made of a stiff cardboardmaterial which will not collapse when inserted into the vagina.

The arcuate inner member is preferably made of a less stiff thinnercardboard material providing that it is sufficiently stiff to enable theinner member to act as a piston to eject the tampon.

The catamenial tampon used in the applicator can be any of thecatamenial tampons known in the art. Such tampons preferably have arounded front end and comprise an absorbent cellulosic fibrous materialwhich will expand laterally when exposed to menses. Tampons of this typeare well known in the art.

Tampon applicators of the invention in compact form can be packagedwithin a bacteria-proof pouch and rendered sterile within the pack by aconventional sterilising method such as electron or gamma irradiation.

The invention will now be illustrated by the following drawings in which

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an applicator of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross section of the applicator of FIG. 1 along the plane AB C D.

FIG. 3 is a similar cross section of the applicator of FIG. 1 with theinner member partially withdrawn.

FIG. 4 is a similar cross section of the applicator of FIG. 1 ready foruse.

FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing of an elevated view of another applicatorof the invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a further applicator of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the applicator of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a cross section of the applicator shown in FIG. 7 along theline A--A.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of yet another applicator of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the applicator showing in FIG. 9.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a tampon applicator of the invention in compact formwhich has an outer cylindrical member 2 containing tampon 3 and innerhemispherical member 4 which lies between the inner surface of outermember 2 and tampon 3 and which is adapted to be slidable moved withincylindrical member 2. Outer member 2 has inward projecting flap 5 toengage and prevent rearward movement of tampon 3 and another inwardprojecting flap 6 which is intermediate of flap 5 and the rear end 7 ofthe outer member 2. Flaps 5 and 6 are formed from the folded cut slotportions of the wall of outer member 2 beneath the flaps. As shown inFIG. 1 flaps 5 and 6 lie adjacent to the sides of inner member 4 toguide and prevent the member 4 rotating when it is slidably moved withinouter member 2. Inner member 4 has a stepped portion 8 which can engagewith flap 6 when inner member 4 is moved rearwards to prevent completewithdrawal of the inner member 4 from outer member 2. Inner member 4also has a portion 9 at one end which extends beyond the rear end 7 ofouter member 2 to act as a handle and a curved end 10 adapted to engagethe rear end 11 of tampon 3.

In order prepare applicator 1 for use inner member 4 is first movedrearwardly within outer member 2 as shown in FIG. 3 to engage flap 5with the rear end 11 of tampon 3. Inner member 4 is then moved furtherrearwardly within outer member 2 as shown in FIG. 4 to withdraw member 4from tampon 3 and to engage stepped portion 8 with flap 6 to preventcomplete withdrawal of inner member 4 from outer member 2. Inner member4 can then be moved forward so that the front end 10 thereof is incontact with the rear end 11 of the tampon to provide a piston to ejectthe tampon from outer member 2. Applicator 1 can be used in a normalfashion to place tampon 3 into the vagina by inserting the front end ofouter member 2 into the vagina, and ejecting tampon 3 from outer member2 by means of inner member 4 and withdrawing members 2 and 4 from thevagina.

Applicator 12 shown in FIG. 5 is similar to that of applicator 1 shownin FIG. 1 except that arcuate inner member 4 has a pair of steppedportions 14 and 15 on opposite sides thereof and outer cylindricalmember 2 has a pair of inward projecting flaps 16 and 17 which areadjacent to the sides of arcuate member 4 and which can engage withstepped portions 14 and 15 when arcuate member 4 is moved rearwardly.Outer cylindrical member 2 also has an inward projecting flap 18 locatedcentrally with respect to the sides of arcuate member 4 which can engagethe rear end 11 of tampon 3 to prevent rearward movement thereof. Flaps16, 17 and 18 as shown in FIG. 5 are hinged radially of outer member 2and fold away from the front end thereof. Such flaps can be aptly formedby punching the wall of outer member 2. Applicator 12 can be assembledfor use and used to insert a tampon into the vagina in the same manneras applicator 1, outer cylindrical member 2 of applicator 12, however,is provided with a segmented domed end 19 to facilitate insertion ofmember 2 into the vagina.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a further tampon applicator 21 of the invention incompact form which has an outer cylindrical member 22 containing tampon23 and inner hemispherical member 24 which lies between the innersurface of outer member 22 and tampon 23 and which is adapted to beslidable moved within cylindrical member 22. Outer member 22 has pair ofopposed inward projecting flaps 25 and 26 to engage and prevent rearwardmovement of tampon 23 and another pair of opposed inward projectingflaps 27 and 28 which are intermediate of flap 25 and 26 and the rearend 32 of the outer member 22. Both pairs of flaps 25, 26 and 27, 28 areformed from axially cut and folded arcuate strip portions of the wall ofouter member 22. Inner member 24 has a stepped portions 29 and 30 whichcan engage with flaps 27 and 28 when inner member 24 is moved rearwardsto prevent complete withdrawal of the inner member 24 from outer member22. As shown more clearly in FIG. 8 the angle subtended by the remainingportion of member 22 adjacent to flaps 25 and 26 is greater than thatsubtended by the remaining portion of member 22 adjacent to flaps 27 and28 to ensure that flaps 25 and 26 do not engage with stepped portions 29and 30 when member 24 is moved rearwardly of outer member 22. Innermember 24 also has a portion 31 at one end which extends beyond the rearend 32 of outer member 22 to act as a handle and a curved end 33 adaptedto engage the rear end 34 of tampon 23. Outer member 22 has a segmenteddomed front end 35 to facilitate insertion thereof into a vagina. Tampon23 is provided with a conventional withdrawal string 36.

In order to prepare applicator 21 for use inner member 24 is first movedrearwardly within outer member 22 to engage flaps 25 and 26 with therear end 34 of tampon 23. Inner member 24 is then moved furtherrearwardly within outer member 22 to withdraw member 24 from tampon 33and to engage stepped portions 29 and 30 with flaps 27 and 28 to preventcomplete withdrawal of inner member 24 from outer member 22. Innermember 24 can then be moved forward so that the front end 33 thereof isin contact with the rear end 34 of the tampon to provide a piston toeject tampon 23 from outer member 22. Applicator 21 can be used in anormal fashion to place tampon 23 into the vagina by inserting the frontend of outer member 22 into the vagina, and ejecting tampon 23 fromouter member 22 by means of inner member 24 and withdrawing member 22and 24 from the vagina.

The rear end of arcuate member 24 can be provided with cylindricalportion (not shown) to facilitate handling member 24 and which canengage with flaps 27 and 28 at rear end 32 of outer member 22 to preventinner member 24 being initially moved forward during assembly of theapplicator.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show another tampon applicator 37 similar to that ofFIGS. 6 to 8 except that rear end 32 of outer cylindrical member 29 hasinwardly projecting flaps 38, 39 formed from the lower portion of member29 so that inner hemispherical member 24 now encloses flaps 38, 39.

The stepped portions 29 and 30 engage with flaps 38, 39 when innermember 24 is moved rearwards to prevent complete withdrawal of innermember 24 from outer member 29.

The inner arcuate members 4 and 24 of applicators 1, 12, 21 and 37 thushave a relatively simple construction which uses less material than thecylindrical inner members or are less complex than the inner memberscomprising a plurality of arms used in prior art compact applicators.

I claim:
 1. A tampon applicator including an outer cylindrical memberfor containing a tampon having a front end through which a tampon can beejected and a rear end, and an inner arcuate member which is arranged tolie between an inner surface of the outer member and the tampon and tobe slidably moved within the outer member to act as a piston forejecting the tampon wherein one end of the inner member is adapted toengage the tampon and has an extending shoulder and wherein the outermember is integrally provided with a first inward projection to engagethe tampon and prevent rearward movement thereof and at least one secondinward projection at a distance from the first inward projection andintermediate the first projection and the rear end of the cylindricalmember to engage the shoulder of the inner member and prevent completewithdrawal of the inner member from the outer member, the distancebetween said first and second projections being such as to providesufficient axial movement of the inner member to allow it to be slidrearwardly past the first projection before the shoulder engages thesecond projection.
 2. An applicator as claimed in claim 1 in which atleast one of the inward projections comprises a flap.
 3. An applicatoras claimed in claim 2 in which the flap has an axis which lies in theaxial direction of the outer cylindrical member.
 4. An applicator asclaimed in claim 1 in which at least one of the inward projectionscomprises a pair of opposed inwardly directing flaps which arepositioned within the outer cylindrical member adjacent to thelongitudinal sides of an arcuate member.
 5. An applicator as claimed inclaim 1 in which the first and second inward projections each comprise apair of flaps.
 6. An applicator as claimed in claim 1 in which at leastone of the inward projections comprises an inwardly deformed arcuatestrip.
 7. An applicator as claimed in claim 1 and 6 in which the firstinward projection comprises an inwardly deformed arcuate strip and thesecond inward projection comprises a pair of flaps.
 8. An applicator asclaimed in claim 1 in which the inner arcuate member comprises ashoulder on both its longitudinal edges.
 9. An applicator as claimed inclaim 1 in which a shoulder of the inner arcuate member comprises astepped portion for engagement with an inward projection.
 10. Anapplicator as claimed in claim 1 in which the front end of the innerarcuate member comprise abutment to ensure engagement of the end with atampon.
 11. An applicator as claimed in claim 1 in which the innerarcuate member extends beyond the rear end of the outer member to aprovide a handle therefor.
 12. An applicator as claimed in claim 1 inwhich outer member comprises a segmented domed insertion end.
 13. Anapplicator as claimed in claim 1 containing a catamenial tampon withinthe outer member.
 14. A sterile applicator as claimed in claim 1 withina bacteria-proof pack.